SRA Standards and Regulations

Eligibility requirements

The SRA shall only grant an application for a practising certificate, or registration in the register of European lawyers, register of foreign lawyers or the register of Swiss lawyers if you meet the eligibility requirements in this regulation. You will be eligible to apply for a practising certificate if: your name is on the roll; and you are not suspended from practice as a solicitor....

Use of intermediaries

You must not use, or propose to use, the services of another person consisting of: insurance distribution; reinsurance distribution; insurance distribution activity; or home finance mediation activity, unless the person: has permission to carry on the activity under Part 4A FSMA; is permitted to carry on the activity under an exemption made in or under FSMA, to the general prohibition set out...

Fee disclosure: additional requirements

Where a fee is payable, you must inform the client of the amount of the fee before the client incurs liability to pay the fee, or before conclusion of the contract of insurance, whichever is earlier. To the extent that it is not possible for the amount in rule 17.1 to be given, you must give the client the basis for its calculation. This rule applies to all such fees that may be charged during...

Regulatory information

An authorised body must display in a prominent place on its website (or, in the case of a licensed body, the website relating to its legal services, if separate) its SRA number and the SRA's digital badge. An authorised body's letterhead and e-mails must show its SRA authorisation number and the words "authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority". A solicitor, an REL, RFL...

Grants which may be made from the Fund

A person may apply for a grant out of the Fund, if the loss referred to in rule 3.3 relates to services provided: by the defaulting practitioner for them; or to, or as, a trustee where they are a beneficiary of the estate or trust. A person who is not a client of the defaulting practitioner may apply for a grant out of the Fund if they: were a party on the other side of a legal matter on which...

Capping payments of multiple applications

Where multiple applications are made to the Fund: that relate to the same or connected underlying circumstances; and the SRA is satisfied that the total amount of the grants made from the Fund in respect of such applications is likely to exceed £5 million, the SRA may impose a limit on the total amount to be paid in respect of those applications of £5 million. Where the SRA imposes a limit...

Application and time limit

An applicant must make an application for a grant in the prescribed form, and within 12 months of the date they first became aware, or should reasonably have become aware, of the loss. The SRA may extend the 12 month period in rule 15.1 if satisfied that there are circumstances which justify the extension of the time limit. The applicant must provide information, documents and evidence...

Authority

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Service and competence

You only act for clients on instructions from the client, or from someone properly authorised to provide instructions on their behalf. If you have reason to suspect that the instructions do not represent your client's wishes, you do not act unless you have satisfied yourself that they do. However, in circumstances where you have legal authority to act notwithstanding that it is not possible to...

Confidentiality and disclosure

You keep the affairs of current and former clients confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or the client consents. Where you are acting for a client on a matter, you make the client aware of all information material to the matter of which you have knowledge, except when: the disclosure of the information is prohibited by legal restrictions imposed in the interests of...